I was delighted to read in the June 13 edition about two wineries that are now listing the ingredients on their wine labels.

That kind of information is required by law on foods and is invaluable to shoppers, and I wish it was required on labels of alcoholic beverages, too. Those wineries, Ridge Vineyards in Cupertino and Bonny Doon Vineyard in Santa Cruz, are to be congratulated for their public service in voluntarily providing that information.

In 1990, nutrition labeling became required by law on most foods. Alcoholic beverages, unfortunately, were not included under that law. We need to change the laws so that both ingredient labeling and nutrition labeling are required on all edible products.

Helen Black

Oakland

Concern about clowns on Capitol Hill

With regards to the article NSA spying on American citizens, House Speaker John Boehner goes as far as to call Edward Snowden a traitor and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell wants to see Snowden prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

This is a prime example of the pot calling the kettle black. These two elected reprehensibles, among others too numerous to list here, swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic to the best of their ability.

If this is the best these clowns can do, the republic is in trouble.

Vasco A. da Costa

Hayward

Where’s outrage with cruelty to people?

It seems that people get very outraged when stories of animal cruelty are reported. I do understand that. Animals should not be abused.

What I don’t understand is that the same level of outrage is not expressed about abuse and violence inflicted upon our fellow human beings, including our precious children.

Perhaps a talented psychologist can help me understand why it is easier for so many people to cry out to the injustices of animal cruelty but remain silent to people cruelty.

Angie Watson-Hajjem

Alameda

Oakland is now a war zone

I am just furious. What’s the matter with the people of Oakland? Are they all numb, or is it post-traumatic stress disorder?

Don’t the people of 98th/MacArthur, or International Boulevard, or east, west, north, hills and visitors deserve the right to life, liberty, freedom and the pursuit of happiness?

After seeing that mad man execute 17-year-old David Mason Jr. in cold blood over and over again on the news, and every young man murdered on the streets of Oakland over the past many years, don’t you think this is a war zone? No different from Iraq or Afghanistan?

It’s time to call in the National Guard. These scenes are played out everyday here. And Mayor Jean Quan wants to cut a ribbon for our lovely Lake Merritt, fine and good. But just up the street, her people are being slaughtered. Is she fiddling while Rome burns?

What is it? Do people just not care because it’s not their son or daughter? One day, it just might be.

These are our children. This city needs a total lockdown or, at the very least, a curfew. I don’t care. Just don’t open it up until it’s right.

I’m so sorry for all the families who have lost loved ones to violence, and this city did not protect them.

Do your job, City Council, mayor and chief of police: Cut the politics and do what’s best for the people of Oakland.